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The courtroom is a familiar setting for fans of film and TV alike. By their nature, legal battles have all the key elements of a compelling narrative: two conflicting sides, stakes, and a clear story structure. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why this subgenre of story has had such great success in multiple mediums. Despite the versatility of these stories, surprisingly few legal films have been adapted for TV.

Most courtroom films center around a single remarkable case, but in doing so, they often introduce the world to iconic characters with real staying power. Adapting these movies into long-running TV series would create an opportunity for writers to dig deeper into these classic cinematic figures.

Erin Brockovich's Impact Stretches Beyond Her First Case Her Life Can Fuel an Entire Series

Julia Roberts won an Oscar for portraying the titular scrappy single mom in Erin Brockovich. Hard up for cash and short on prospects,...

The American Film Institute defines courtroom drama as a genre of film in which a system of justice plays a critical role in the movie's narrative. In the United States, courtroom dramas have been a popular movie genre since the 1930s. Courtroom dramas have had a propensity to earn a wealth of critical acclaim thanks in part to the genre's frequent exploration of timely social themes. The genre also consistently allows actors the opportunity to deliver epic monologues, which has led to countless iconic performances within the genre.

In the twenty-first century, courtroom dramas have continued to thrive critically and commercially. Courtroom dramas such as Erin Brockovich, Michael Clayton, The Social Network, and Bridge of Spies have all earned Academy Award nominations for Best Picture. Internationally, courtroom dramas like A Separation, The Third Murder, Saint Omer, and Anatomy of a Fall each rank among the greatest films released since 2000.

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Though it was hardly the first thriller to portray domesticity imperiled by an artificially intelligent “helper”, the runaway success of 2022’s “M3GAN” certainly lent that concept new commercial appeal. Unsurprisingly, Blumhouse isn’t waiting for next summer’s “M3GAN 2.0” to capitalize on its own success. Writer-director Chris Weitz’s “Afraid” (recently retitled with an “AI” spin from the previously announced “They Listen”) stars John Cho and Katherine Waterston as a married couple whose home is selected to test a new “digital family assistant.” Needless to say, it soon develops a dangerous mind of its own.

This less tongue-in-cheek traipse through formulaic sci-fi horror terrain works well enough to a point, its setup nicely handled by Weitz and his cast. But when crises start occurring at the halfway mark, they pile on too quickly to underwhelming effect, sacrificing credibility for excitement that never really materializes. Opening without press screenings, the...

Hey Dude cast mostly moved on from acting careers after the show, with few notable exceptions like Christine Taylor. Fans still visit the Bar None Dude Ranch location in Tuscon, which was originally the Tanque Verde Ranch. Some cast members like Kelly Brown left acting altogether due to uncomfortable experiences, focusing on other ventures.

"Where is the Hey Dude cast now?" is what some fans of the Nickelodeon Western sitcom have been wondering now that the show is over 30 years old. Hey Dude is likely a Nickelodeon sitcom that most people have forgotten about. Premiering in 1989 and lasting for five seasons, Hey Dude was the first full-length original live-action comedy on the network and the second scripted series, premiering only after The Third Eye from 1989.

Hey Dude stars Ben Ernst Sr. (David Brisbin), a divorced, bumbling father from New Jersey who decides to quit the fast-paced life of the East Coast,...

"Sinister," 10 years removed from its original theatrical release, has cemented itself as one of our finest modern horror films. Directed by Scott Derrickson and co-written by C. Robert Cargill, it is a refreshingly original, twisted, and dark tale of a writer (played by Ethan Hawke) going too far in search of his next hit. Aside from being a genuinely great movie, it also made a ton of money and helped to establish the business model that made Blumhouse a powerhouse studio in the genre space.

I had the good fortune of speaking with Derrickson, Cargill, and several others recently for a comprehensive oral history on the making of "Sinister" for its 10th anniversary. One of the most surprising things in the entire movie is the opening sequence, which sees a family being hanged to death on Super 8 film, brutally and quietly. And in speaking with the filmmakers, I came...

There's a texture to the scares of "Sinister" that makes its imagery cling to my nightmares much longer than most other horror movies. Its like the movie's Super 8 scares and freaky shot setups are dipped in something dark and inescapable that makes them stick, even a full decade after the film's release. Something like pitch-black paint.

In celebration of the indelible horror movie's 10th anniversary, /Film's Ryan Scott spoke with cast and crew members to create an oral history of "Sinister." Among those interviewed were director of photography Chris Norr and production designer David Brisbin, who opened up about the real black paint involved in production, and the Baroque painter who inspired the film's bone-chillingly dark art design.

"One of the things that [director Scott Derrickson] said," Brisbin shared, was "'Look, we're getting no money to make this, so we can make it look like whatever we want it to look like.

It’s either an in-joke or an irony that the not-terribly-terrifying villain of “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” is named The Grand Guignol, for Rachel Talalay’s perky, clean-cut kiddie-horror steers as far clear as possible of the macabre gore and gruesomeness implied by the name. In this tale of an underground babysitter syndicate dedicated to fighting the things that go bump in the night, even the monsters are cute: roly-poly, crayon-colored, off-brand uglydolls that look like Mike Wazowski’s less genetically blessed relatives. Yet cuteness supplants genuine charm in this Netflix-released adaptation of screenwriter Joe Ballarini’s YA book series, which may adequately distract very young ones on a socially distanced Halloween night, but offers ample room for improvement in the franchise it seeks to start.

It’s been 25 years since Talalay directed a theatrical feature in the chaotic, cult-bound “Tank Girl,” having cut her teeth bringing...

Stars: Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Dean Norris, Gil Bellows, Lorraine Toussaint, Austin Zajur, Natalie Ganzhorn, Austin Abrams, Kathleen Pollard | Written by Guillermo del Toro, Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman | Directed by André Øvredal

André Øvredal’s film is the adaption of writer Alvin Schwartz’ novel(s) of the same name. A series that is a cross between Goosebumps and Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark aimed primarily at Ya audiences, but does not shy away from the horror. The influences and intention of what the film wants to build are on the surface intriguing; however, the final product is an underwhelming exploit that flounders all its potential with a bumbling and underwhelming execution of tension and atmosphere.

The influence of Andy Muschietti’s 2017 blockbuster horror hit It has changed the face of horror in the mainstream forever. Such an influence has never been more evident in the Guillermo del Toro written,...

Stars: Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Dean Norris, Gil Bellows, Lorraine Toussaint, Austin Zajur, Natalie Ganzhorn, Austin Abrams, Kathleen Pollard | Written by Guillermo del Toro, Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman | Directed by André Øvredal

André Øvredal’s film is the adaption of writer Alvin Schwartz’ novel(s) of the same name. A series that is a cross between Goosebumps and Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark aimed primarily at Ya audiences, but does not shy away from the horror. The influences and intention of what the film wants to build are on the surface intriguing; however, the final product is an underwhelming exploit that flounders all its potential with a bumbling and underwhelming execution of tension and atmosphere.

The influence of Andy Muschietti’s 2017 blockbuster horror hit It has changed the face of horror in the mainstream forever. Such an influence has never been more evident in the Guillermo del Toro written,...

Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has taken U.S. rights to Ld Entertainment’s Jacob’s Ladder, a re-imagination of the 1990 thriller about a Vietnam vet who suffers from a severe case of dissociation.

Dish will premiere Jacob’s Ladder in an exclusive July window, followed by a theatrical release in August. David M. Rosenthal directed the film which stars Michael Ealy, Jesse Williams, Nicole Beharie, and Karla Souza.

The Exchange is currently selling international rights at the 2019 Cannes Film Market.

In Rosenthal’s Jacob’s Ladder, Jacob Singer is getting his life back together after his brother is killed in Afghanistan. Jacob has a beautiful wife, a newborn child and a successful career as surgeon in a Va hospital. When a stranger approaches Jacob and reveals that...

For those of you who remember the Nickelodeon show "Hey Dude," with its cheesy, computer-generated title card and cast of fresh faced camp counselors who toiled in a dude ranch, have we got some nostalgia-drenched news for you: the cast has reunited! And they're all significantly older!

The show, which ran from 1989 to 1991 and can currently be streamed on Amazon Prime, starred David Brisbin, Kelly Brown, Jonathan Galkin, Debra Kalman and Christine Taylor, all of whom reunited for what appears to be the purposes of some kind of Nickelodeon '90s throwback thing (and, of course, just to celebrate its 25th anniversary). One thing from the brief clip is very clear: Christine Taylor's consistent career (not to mention her marriage to Ben Sitller) has afforded her a much better skincare regiment/workout routine.

Watch the video, think about all those questionable hairstyles and sing along with us: "It's a...

Back in the saddle again! Twenty-five years after its series premiere, the cast and writers of Nickelodeon's cult hit Hey Dude reunited at the 2014 Atx TV Festival in Austin on Friday, June 6, which was the first time many of them had seen each other since 1991.  Taking part in the beloved Western-themed series' reunion were stars David Lascher (Lookin' good, Ted McGriff!), Christine Taylor, David Brisbin, Geoffrey Coy, Josh Tygiel, Debrah Kalman and Jonathan Galkin, as well as writer Graham Yost, who created FX's critically acclaimed series Justified. Unfortunately, Kelly Brown was unable to attend the walk down memory lane due to a last-minute family emergency, while no...

Austin television fans have been gearing up for the 3rd annual Atx Television Festival (or as the festival likes to say, "Season 3"), running from Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8 in downtown Austin. The relatively new festival features a handful of current television shows as well as a few retrospectives and panels that focus on the behind-the-scenes world of TV. Venues include Alamo Drafthouse Ritz and Stateside at the Paramount.

The full lineup was recently released, and Nineties kids will once again rejoice at the fact that another childhood favorite is coming to Atx. A cast and crew reunion of Hey Dude! is one of the headliners, bringing fan favorites such as Christine Taylor and David Brisbin to town. That's not the only reunion the fest has planned, though. Everwood and Roswell cast members are also coming together again to discuss what it was like to work on these popular shows.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences brings you the Oscars (yep, that's why they're called Academy Awards), and on Friday, the organization announced that it was prepared to invite 176 new folks to its fold.

In a list posted on its website, the Academy deemed Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Terrence Malick, Jonah Hill, Berenice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer and a host of other film luminaries worthy of inclusion in its nearly 6,000-member army.

The Academy has drawn the ire of critics who bemoan its overwhelmingly male, white population. A Los Angeles Times investigation found that of all Academy members, 94 percent are Caucasian and 77 percent are male. A mere 2 percent are black, with Latinos constituting an even smaller portion. Only 14 percent of members are under the age of 50.

Full members of the Academy select and vote on Oscars nominees. The organization was started in 1927 and is now governed by a 43-person board.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 176 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2012 to the Academy.s roster of members.

.These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,. said Academy President Tom Sherak. .I.m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member..

Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.

The 2012 invitees are:

Actors

Simon Baker . .Margin Call,. .L.A. Confidential.

Sean Bean . .Flightplan,. .The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Bérénice Bejo . .The Artist,. .Oss 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies.

Tom Berenger . .Inception,. .Platoon.

Demián Bichir . .A Better Life,. .Che.

Jessica Chastain . .The Help,. .The Tree of Life.

Clifton Collins,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended their 2012 membership invitations today to 176 lucky actors, directors, cinematographers, and other members of the filmmaking industry.

Terrence Malick, who somehow wasn’t already a member, received an invitation, as did fellow directors Rodrigo Garcia and Asghar Farhadi.

For actors, Melissa McCarthy’s invitation continues her incredible post-Bridesmaids rise. In addition, actors Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Andy Serkis, Jessica Chastain, and Octavia Spencer were all invited to be members, among others.

Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003, according to the Academy’s website.

HollywoodNews.com: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 176 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2012 to the Academy’s roster of members.

“These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “I’m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member.”

Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.

The 2012 invitees are:

Actors

Simon Baker – “Margin Call,” “L.A. Confidential”

Sean Bean – “Flightplan,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”

Bérénice Bejo – “The Artist,” “Oss 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies”

Tom Berenger – “Inception,” “Platoon”

Demián Bichir – “A Better Life,” “Che”

Jessica Chastain – “The Help,” “The Tree of Life”

Clifton Collins,...

It’s another season of everyone’s favorite teenage ranchers, and though I know you thought it couldn’t get better, Hey Dude is back for more with a Season 2 release.

As I said in my review of the Season 1 release (and I went over the show pretty thoroughly, and won’t overly retread here), this is a show that makes you long for better demographically-targeted work today. While there isn’t anything about Hey Dude that exactly comes through as the next greatest thing, it’s fun and funny programming that the right age-group enjoys immensely, and remains in the category of utterly harmless as well.

By the time we get to the second season, we’re pretty comfortable with the characters, and the episodes reflect the fact. While the dynamics stay somewhat open in certain respects, we’re solidly in Ted is Ted country here. We’ve moved...

It must have been the fall of 1985. I was living in San Francisco, running the Eureka Theatre, and visiting New York. As always, I was trying to cram in as much theater as I could, and I was frustrated because I had arrived late at the Public Theater for some show (I don't remember which one) with an 8 o'clock curtain. There was a no-late-seating policy, and I thought I was out of luck."Actually," said my friend David Brisbin, "this is a great opportunity. Remember that kid, the Nyu student I've been telling you about? He's got a show going up tonight in Chelsea—and it's an 8:30 curtain."I grumbled all the way to 23rd Street, disgruntled at wasting one of my precious nights in New York on a play by a student writer-director. We arrived, sat down, and within half an hour I knew I was at a life-changing.

Back in March we learned that a handful of programming from the 90's would make its way to late night time slots on TeenNick for a great block of shows called The 90's Are All That. Originally starting with All That, Kenan & Kel, Doug and Clarissa Explains It All, the line-up has since expanded to include shows like Hey Arnold! and Rugrats. Now another Nickelodeon classic is joining the ranks as EW has word that Hey Dude is saddling up for some reruns. If this just didn't hit during your childhood or you just didn't have Nickelodeon as a kid, the series, which aired from 1989-1991, followed a wacky group of teenagers working at the Bar None western dude ranch and starred David Brisbin (Mr. Ernst), David Lascher (Ted), Christine Taylor (Melody), Kelly Brown (Brad), and Joe Torres (Danny). Not only is Hey Dude coming around, but the entire programming...

TeenNick’s ’90s block is just too crazy popular to air at midnight, so the cable net has decided to move it where even more 20-somethings can appreciate a good rerun when they see one. Beginning this Friday, The ’90s Are All That will move up two hours to 10 p.m., where the rotating block of beloved Nick shows will now air seven days a week.

That’s not all: Hey Dude will now have a much-coveted spot in the lineup, alongside All That, Kenan & Kel and Doug. And Stick Stickly — aka the famous popsicle stick from the ’90s — will...

Unbelievably, Hey Dude, Nickelodeon's teen-focused, dude ranch extravaganza, started airing in 1989. That isn't unbelievable because of how long ago it was, but because I find it hard to imagine I was actually that old when it came out.

The misadventures of the Bar None Ranch was the first original, live-action program on the network. Though it didn't last an especially long time in first runs, it lived on for quite a while on the network, and paved the way for more original shows by the network that soon followed - Welcome Freshmen, Clarissa Explains It All, Salute Your Shorts, Doug, Rugrats, and many others.

Thus, odd as it may sound, the show has its place in TV history, and is pretty legitimately the forefather of the teen market of shows now ruled by such treasures as iCarly.

The show opened with the return to summer employment at the ranch, with...